Curtain-supporting device for automobile doors and the like



, c. C. BLACKMORE. CURTAIN SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE DOORS AND THE LIKE- APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I8, 1919.

1,48%389, Patented Dec. 5, 19.22.

INVENTOR. 63 6: Black/4a are W ATTIORNEY V Patented Dec. 5, W22.

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Application filed September 18; .1919. Serial No. 324,278.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES (3. BLACK: MORE, citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in; ,Curtain-Supporting Devices for Automobile Doors and the like, of which the-following is a specification, reference being had therein to, the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to, curtain supporting devices for automobile doors and the like.

- Many automobiles are now provided with rods adapted to be removably mounted at the free edge of the door and'to support the edge of the storm curtain on the door so that the latter will open and .close with the door.

g The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and eiilcient device for removably mounting these rods on the door.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device, which will yieldably hold the rod, and consequently the edge of the door curtain, in engagement with the adjacent portion of the fixed curtain but will permit the edge portion of the door cur,- tain to swing outwardly.

It is also an objectof the invention to provide a curtain rod of-such acharacter that the edge of the door curtain will be held in close contact with the adjacent portion of the fixed curtain. I

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a side wall of the automobile body, showing the curtain supporting rod mounted thereon; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the attaching device, showing the same secured to the door; Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4: is an enlarged detail view, showing the connection between the curtain rod and the lower end of the attaching device; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a curtain rod, showing a modified form of the attaching device; and Fig. ,6 is a detail view, show- .ing another slight modification of the attaching device. I

- In Fig. lof the drawings I have shown a port-ion of the automobile body at 1, comprising the usual door 2. Mounted onthis door, near the free edge thereof, is a rod 3, to which is connected the ad acent edge ofithe storm curtain 4 for the door. This rod compr ses a portion, or shank 5, adapted to be seated in a suitable socket carried by the door and is preferably offset from the body portion of the rod and connected thereto by a transverse portion 6. I By thus olfsetting the body of the rod from the shank, the former is positioned beyond the free edge of the door and the curtain,jwhich is secured thereto, will be caused to overlap the adjacent portion of the fixed curtain on the body. 1. The door is provided with a suitable attaching devicetosecure the rod thereto and this attaching device is usually in the form of a socket to receive the shank 5 of the rod, which socket may be mounted in, or on, the door near the free edge thereof. It is desirable that the connection between the rod and the door shall be yieldable, so that'the rod will pressthe edge of the door curtain firmly against the fixed curtain when the door is in its closed position. have provided a very simple and inexpensive socket, which will firmly support the rod in such a manner that it can be quickly and easily placed in position there on or removedtherefrom and will permit the same to have a slight yielding movement. :As shown in the present drawings, this socket comprises a coil! of spring wire, or other suitable resilient material, which is tubular in shape and of'such an internal diameter that the rod maybe easily inserted in, or removed from, the same and. is of such lengtlrthat the rod will be held firmly in an upright position. One end of the coil, or socket, is so connected with the rod as to be held against rotaryrnovement relatively thereto, while the other end of the coil is fixed against rotation with the rod. In the rotation, but also to limit the downward movement of the rod and thus support the same in its proper position on the door. At the upper end of the (3011 the end of the wire projects tangentially, from the coil, as shown at 10, so that it. may be secured to the supporting structure in such a manner asito hold this portion of the coil against rotation. A

The coil, or socket, may be mounted in, or on, the door in any suitable manner. When mounted within the door, it is arranged in alinement with an opening 11 formed in the top rail thereof. In that form of the "device shownin Figs. 2 and 8 1 have, shown the socket as secured in positionby means for metal-bands, or clips, 12 and 13, having portions to fit about the upper and lower ends of the socket, respectively, and having end. portions which may be secured to the supporting structure in any suitable manner, as by screws or rivets.

1 These clips hold the socket firmly in its proper position without interfering with its resiliency. If desired, the lower clip 13 may be provided with a lip 1% to engage the coil and holdit against downwardmovement. The upper clip 12 is provided with a recess 15 to receive the end 10 of the wire and hold the same against movement.

The clips 12 and 13 may, if desired, be dispensed with, and the wire from which the coil is formed shaped to provide the necessary fastening means. In Fig. 5 of the drawings, the upper end portion of the wire is bent to form laterally extending portions, or cars, '16 and 17, having openings to receive screws, or other attaching devices. lVhen secured to the door in this manner, the socket will be held firmly in its position and is wholly self-contained. In Fig. 6 I have shown the socket as having the upper end ofits wire shaped to form a single ear 18, by means of which it may be secured to the door. lVith this construction the clip '13 atv the bottom of the coil may be retained,

if desired, to hold the socket more firmly in a vertical position, although the fasten- 111g at the top will ordinarily accomplish this in'a satisfactory manner.

' lit will be apparent, in the foregoing description, that I have provided a socket of the character described, which is'of a very simple and inexpensive construction, which can be very quickly and easily attached to the door, and which will hold' the curtain rod firmly in its proper position, but will permit it to have suchyielding movement as may be necessary to enable the rod to hold the edge 01 the door curtain in contact with the fixed curtain. Further, the axis of the curtain rod being spaced from the edge of the door the edge portion of the curtain may be swung outwardly relatively to the door and to the body of the curtain to provide an opening through which the hand may be extended for signalling purposes, and as soon as the pressure on the rod is relieved it will automatically restore the curtain to its closed position.

As shown in Fig. 1, the position of the rod on the door 1s such as to provide a relatively small openmg, such as would be required tor signalling with the hand, but obviously the rod may of and, in order that the. main portion of the rod, to which the curtain is attached, maybesragainst the" fixed curtain, I prefer that the transverse, or connecting part 6 of the rod shall be curved after the manner shown in Figs. l and 5. I

Whilel have shown and described one embodimentot my invention, with certain minor variationsthereot,-1-wish it to be understood that I do not desireto be limited to the details shown, as various modifications may occur-to a 'p'erson skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim'as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1-. The combination with an automobile door or the like and a curtain therefor, of a curtain supporting rod attached to one edge of said curtain and having an ofiset portion yieldably mounted on said door at a point spaced from the edge-thereof for movement about a vertical axis, whereby the edge portion of said curtain may be swung outwardly relatively to said door and to the body of said curtain.

2. The combination with an automobile door or the like and a curtain therefor, of a curtain rod comprising a shank rotatably mounted on said door at a point spaced fromthe edge-thereoffor movement about a vertical axis, a portion extending laterally fromsaid shank, and aportio'n extending upwardly from said laterally extending portion and adapted to be attached to said curtain, and a spring acting on said rod to yieldably hold the last mentioned portion thereof against outward movement.

Jr curtain supporting device for an auto- -mobile door or the like comprising arod supporting device adapted to be mounted on -ient socket adapted'tdbe mounted on said door and capable "of yielding movement about a longitudinal axis, a curtain supporting rod mounted in said socket for movement about a longitudinal axis and adapted to be inserted in and removed from said socket at will, and means for connecting one end of said rod with the adjacent end of said socket to hold the rod and said end of the said spring having parts arranged to be brought into cooperative relation when said rod is inserted in said socket to hold said rod and said end of said spring against relative rotation, and means to hold the other end of said spring against rotation with said rod.

6. A curtain supporting device for an automobile door or the like comprising a spring wound to form a socket which is adapted to be mounted on an automobile door, a rod mounted in said socket for movement about a longitudinal axis and adapted to be inserted in and removed from said socket at will and having in one end thereof a recess, said spring havin a part adapted to enter said recess when said rod is inserted in said socket and to hold the rod against rotation relatively to the adjacent end of said spring, and means to hold the other end of said spring against rotation with said rod.

7. A curtain supporting device for an automobile door or the like comprising a spring wound to form a socket which is adapted to be mounted on said door, a rod mounted in said socket for movement about a longitudinal axis and adapted to be insorted in and removed from said socket at will, said rod and the lower portion of said spring having parts arranged to be brought into cooperative relation by the insertion of said rod in said socket to hold said rod and said portion of said spring against relative rotation, and the upper portion of said spring having a part shaped to provide means for securing said socketin position on a supporting structure and for holding the upper end portion thereof against rotation with said rod.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature hereto.

CHARLES C. BLACKMORE. 

